Proshare, the non profit-making organisation to promote wider share ownership has negotiated a series of deals which will allow new members to trade shares at discount commission rates through Fidelity, NatWest Stockbrokers and Birmingham-based ShareLink.

Fidelity will offer new Proshare members up to pounds 35 off the commission on the first trade if they open a Stockbroking Service or Stockbroking Plus account, or off the cost of the first trade after opening a Fidelity ActiveTrader Account (which offers special low rates to investors who trade at least 25 times a year in UK securities), plus a 50 per cent discount on the first year's service fee.

Natwest Stockbrokers offers a 10 per cent discount on dealing charges through its BrokerLine telephone dealing service plus a 20 per cent discount on the annual fee for its advice service, access to its research news sheets and discounts on the bank's will and executive services.

ShareLink is offering a pounds 50 cashback for ProShare members who open a self-select PEP or transfer an existing PEP to a new Premier PEP. There is also a 30 per cent discount on Premier's new issue bulletin..

The AITC and ShareLink are launching a new low-cost execution-only share dealing service, called Share-IT, for investors wanting to buy or sell investment trust shares. There is no charge to set up the account, the dealing charge is 1 per cent up to pounds 2,500 with a pounds 10 minimum, falling to 0.75 per cent between pounds 2,500 and pounds 5,000 and a maximum of pounds 45 on deals up to pounds 75,000. Details on 0121-200-4591.

If another US fashion crosses the Atlantic stand by for a specialised UK unit trust targeted at gays and investing only in gay-friendly companies. The Meyers, Sheppard Pride Fund will not invest in companies unless they have a progressive policy towards gays and lesbians, says Shelly Meyers, the fund's portfolio manager. She has identified 400 US companies that meet its requirements, such as operating policies of non-discrimination and offering benefits to partners of gay employees. Among them are American Express and Time Warner.

If you're in the red and can't find a way out, it's time to get some help. Neasa MacErlean hears that relationships will suffer unless you are open with your partner, but there are organisations that will put you on the right track and get you talking